Wenyuan Pavilion.

For the civilian clique, another setback, although the result did not seem to be a hundred thousand urgent, but Jiang Mian was clearly exhausted.

Mao Ji took Jiang Mian aside alone and asked in a low voice, "Are you ready to quit the court and return to your hometown to recuperate?"

Jiang Mian nodded: "All to such a field, Your Majesty is so stubborn, as the head of the civil ministers, but he can't play the responsibility of supporting the king, what's the point of staying in the court?"

"But you can't be angry."

Mao Ji said, "If you and I both quit the court, now in this situation, the court situation can be stable? Huang Gongxian will inevitably join the cabinet, how do you think the cabinet will take in the future to deal with the matter of etiquette?"

One sentence made Jiang Mian fall into deep thought.

Fei Hong and Liu Chun seem to be on the side of opposing the Great Rites Proposal, but this is based on Jiang Mian as the first assistant and the joint advance and retreat of the Chinese officials.

If Jiang Mian and Mao Ji are no longer in the court, and Fei Hong is the first assistant, how can he guarantee that the two of them will resolutely oppose the emperor's claims?

Mao Ji sighed and said, "Speaking of which, I learned the news two days ago that Xi Shu was on his way to Beijing."

"What?" Jiang Mian frowned. This came as a surprise to him.

Mao Ji said: "When His Majesty recruited Zhang Xuan, Zhang Bangqi and others into Beijing, they were all secretly plotting, until people arrived in Beijing, the news came out, I thought that Your Majesty was just recruiting the Minister of Rites to enter Beijing to discuss matters, but now it seems that perhaps Your Majesty has already planned to use the Ministry of Rites to represent the Shangshu, this move...... It's not an improvisation."

Fei Hong closed his eyes, shook his head and said, "Your Majesty greeted us in advance on the matter of the ceremony, doesn't it mean that Your Majesty has already planned?"

The two were silent for a moment.

At this time, there were footsteps outside, and Liu Chun called the door outside: "Two, the master of ceremonies, Father-in-law Zhang, is here, saying that he wants to see the four of me."

"Got it, let Grandpa Zhang wait for a while, and go when I'm done with the matter at hand." Jiang Mian said.

Waiting for Liu Chun to go to the waiting room first, Mao Ji asked, "What does Zhang Zuo mean by coming to the cabinet?"

Jiang Mian said, "Conveying His Majesty's intentions, it is also possible that he is here to appease us and others...... Let's take it one step at a time."

After saying that, he got up and walked to the door.

Mao Ji looked at Jiang Mian's rickety and aging back, and probably heard that Jiang Mian was interested in the government, so he didn't say much, got up and followed, and the two went to see Zhang Zuo together.

Zhang Zuo smiled and saluted the four members of the cabinet, and his tone was very polite.

It seems that Zhang Zuo didn't mind the contradiction between the previous king and Wenchen on the Great Rites Discussion, and smiled like a good old man, just because he was born in Xingwangfu, and he didn't stay in the study room of the celebrant himself, so Wenchen kept a distance from him and didn't dare to get close.

"Let's put it this way, Your Majesty wants to add one more person to the cabinet...... This time, His Majesty said that he wanted to push the court, and at present, there are three Hanlin bachelors, and one person will enter the cabinet. I wonder what the four elders think?" Cut and dried.

The emperor wanted to increase the number of scholars in the cabinet.

Jiang Mian and Mao Ji knew very well that the emperor just wanted to thin out the influence of the two of them in the cabinet, and it was obvious that the emperor did not plan to add Shi Ban and Feng Xi to the list of cabinet scholars, but the purpose was to facilitate Huang Zan to enter the cabinet.

Mao Ji said: "Hasn't this matter been discussed at the court? At present, there are four members in the cabinet, and they can still complete the errand, if they have to increase the ........ I am afraid that it will make it difficult for the Hanlin Yuan and other government offices to complete the affairs of the DPRK and China due to lack of manpower. 「

Zhang Zuo continued to smile and said, "Anyway, it's still the cabinet's errand that matters. The words have been brought, if a few elders have opinions, it is better to ...... Wait until the meeting between Japan and North Korea?"

Again?

When Jiang Mian heard the anger, he couldn't hold back any longer, and said loudly as if questioning: "If Your Majesty is dissatisfied with the Cabinet's errands, why did Your Majesty want to keep your Majesty if you resigned earlier?"

This time, the smile on Zhang Zuo's face froze.

The surrounding Mao Ji, Liu Chun and Fei Hong all looked at the two of them with strange eyes, probably thinking that Jiang Mian was a little out of shape.

Zhang Zuo hesitated for a moment and said, "This is what Your Majesty meant, our family is just bringing a word, what is the specific purpose, if Jiang Ge has any doubts, he will go together."

Consult Your Majesty...... We're leaving."

Originally, the eunuch who was in charge of the celebrant came with a smile, the relationship between the two sides was quite harmonious, they were both scene people, and they shouldn't tear their faces, but now the result is that Zhang Zuo left with a tense face.

At this time, even Mao Ji didn't understand Jiang Mian's impulse.

Jiang Mian went in to deal with the matter of the ticket. Mao Ji called Fei Hong and Liu Chun aside.

Mao Ji said: "You have also seen that His Majesty intends to increase the number of ministers, the first choice is Huang Gongxian, he has been in Huguang as a domain, more or less with the Xingwang Mansion, with Huang Gongxian's prestige in the court, to do Shangshu or can, if it is used to enter the cabinet, I am afraid it will be unconvincing."

Fei Hong and Liu Chun both heard it, Mao Ji wanted to win over the two of them and oppose Huang Zan into the cabinet together.

Liu Chun said with a smile: "The cabinet is like this now, which is actually quite good." Mao Ji set his eyes on Fei Hong again.

Perhaps Mao Ji also knew that if he and Jiang Mian retired, then Fei Hong would be the next first assistant, and the political inclination of the future court civil officials would be largely determined by Fei Hong.

Fei Hong said: "There is nothing wrong with increasing the number of cabinet ministers, I have prepared my resignation next day, and I will submit it in the next two days."

Mao Ji shook his head: "You shouldn't go."

Liu Chun was still laughing, but when he heard this, his smile suddenly disappeared, what does this mean?

Shouldn't he go? Is it time for me to go?

"It is not appropriate for the cabinet to be greatly turbulent, and in this situation, Jingzhi and I have to retreat, but if you stay here, the major affairs of the DPRK and China will at least remain the same...... As for whether the public offering and others are in the cabinet, they are all fine."

Mao Ji said suddenly dejectedly. Liu Chun couldn't understand.

Obviously, he is trying to win over the two of us, and follow your first and second assistants to oppose Huang Zhan's entry into the cabinet, why did you suddenly say that this matter doesn't matter?

If it doesn't even matter, how can it be called? Fei Hong thought for a moment and asked, "What should be the most worrying thing at the moment is, does Your Majesty use the old man of the former dynasty?"

One sentence gets to the point.

Obviously, Fei Hong is ready to be the first assistant, probably only he knows that if Jiang Mian and Mao Ji retire, who the potential political opponents will be, it will definitely not be Huang Zan and Qiao Yu, nor will it be Shi Xuan, Feng Xi, Jia Yong, Li Tingxiang and others who may enter the cabinet in the future, but the "old men of the former dynasty", that is, Yang Yiqing and Xie Qian.

Only when they return to the DPRK will they have a fundamental impact on the future cabinet order.

Mao Ji nodded: "That's right, Your Majesty has a tendency to continue to use the old ministers in the past, but many things, not the older the better, the court always has to look forward."

Fei Hong himself is also an old man who was used by the emperor, but he doesn't think there is anything wrong with appointing the old man, but if Yang Yiqing and Xie Qian come back, he, Fei Hong, will also feel huge pressure.

Liu Chun said, "So what is going to happen? Agree to His Majesty's proposal to increase the number of ministers? Let Huang Gong dedicate himself to the cabinet? 「

Mao Ji shook his head: "That's what you should be concerned about in the future...... Tomorrow I will continue to resign, and the two of you will not join in this fun, even if you mention it, Your Majesty will not agree. Let it be as it should be."

After Liu Chun talked to Mao Ji alone, he had many doubts in his heart. Before Sun Jiao left the capital, Liu Chun was worried about his old friend and visited him in person, but saw that Sun Jiao's belongings had been almost packed up, and he was preparing to leave for the south in the next two days.

"Why are you in such a hurry to leave?" Liu Chun and Sun Jiao went to the main hall, Sun Jiao looked self-satisfied, and Liu Chun was quite puzzled.

Even if your grandson leaves office, wouldn't it be good to stay in the capital for a while longer, and have time to talk to your son and son-in-law, who are officials in the Hanlin Academy?

Why are you in such a hurry to go back to Huguang?

Sun Jiaodao: "Since I have retreated, I must retreat completely, and no one will bother me with court affairs in the future."

Liu Chun asked, "Then who will take over your position as Shangshu?" Sun Jiao shook his head: "I don't know."

"You haven't proposed anyone to Your Majesty?" Liu Chun still didn't understand.

Obviously, Sun Jiao and the new emperor's faction are quite close, when Sun Jiao returned to the court, it was also the new emperor who insisted on tying people back, how could he retreat this time

In such a hurry?

Even if your grandson is leaving, do you want to complete the handover first?

After all, the candidates for the new Shangshu haven't even been finalized yet, are you going to flee? Could it be that you have a lot of deficit in the household tribe, and you have to go?

Sun Jiaodao: "Your Majesty is young and promising, and he has finally made achievements in governing the court with his ideas...... I'm not going to get involved."

Liu Chun listened to this kind of soup, his old face was tense, and he was obviously unhappy. I'll exchange sincerity with you, and you will use diplomatic rhetoric to perfunctory? Sun Jiaodao: "There is something to tell you, the most important person around Your Majesty is Jingdao."

"Didn't you mention it a long time ago?"

Liu Chun frowned, "It is said that it is heavy, but I haven't seen much weight, and now it is still just a Hanlin revision, and it is not safe...... How do you say you are emphasizing the Fa?"

Sun Jiao snorted lightly: "But everything you see is made up by Jingdao, can you understand this?"

Liu Chun smiled and shook his head: "I don't believe it. If you want to say that there are some things, and there is respect for the Tao involved, I can still understand, but if you say that everything is him...... How is this possible?"

Sun Jiaodao: "I told you everything, you will slowly understand it yourself in the future, don't blame me for not reminding you." I'm going to leave for the south early the day after tomorrow, so you don't have to come to deliver it...... This place in the capital is cold in winter and hot in summer, I really have enough to live! From now on we will not see each other again, and we will have time to exchange letters."

"Hmm."

Liu Chun was going to mention Jiang Mian and the cabinet to Sun Jiao, but seeing that Sun Jiao was so relaxed, he was embarrassed to mention it.

"Is there something wrong?"

Only then did Sun Jiao remember the purpose of asking Liu Chun to come to the door.

Liu Chun said: "Jing Zhi and Wei Zhi, tomorrow will continue to play begging and returning...... Your Majesty also intends to increase the number of cabinet ministers."

"Forget it, don't mention this to me, it has nothing to do with me." Sun Jiao really didn't want to talk more about the employment of people in the DPRK and China with Liu Chun.

Liu Chun said, "Then you should always tell me what the future direction of the court you foresee, right?"

Sun Jiao said impatiently: "I told you, everything is planned by Jingdao behind his back, if you have any questions in the future, go and ask him directly......

"Don't underestimate him, if Your Majesty can choose, he will definitely let Jingdao be the first assistant, are you laughing with you? He won't tell me anything about it, just like I don't know much about what happened in the court this time, so ...... You'd better find out what he's going to do."